An optician who gave patients tinted lenses as an autism treatment has been struck off.
The move follows a watchdog ruling that he “acted outside the scope of his practice”.
Vicky McDermott of the General Optical Council: she says the probe that saw optician Ian Jordan struck off was “robust”
Ian Jordan cannot work as an optician in the UK after the General Optical Council (GOC) ruled his fitness to practice was “impaired”. This was due to “misconduct”.
A GOC committee heard Jordan had a special interest in using tinted lenses for people with learning disabilities.
But Jordan did not base his actions on “sound clinical foundation”, the committee ruled.
Routinely treated people with autism
Jordan said he “routinely” treated people with autism for prosopagnosia, or face blindness.
He insisted 99 per cent of the time he treated the condition successfully.
Jordan accused the GOC of instead wanting him to refer patients to hospitals and “have nothing done”.
Petition calls for reinstatement
On petitions website change.org, Lucy Johnson calls on the GOC to reinstate Jordan.
More than 1,300 supporters have backed her petition.
She says the optician helped “thousands of children and adults” with issues linked to autism and other developmental conditions.
The optician says supporters plan a crowdfunding effort. If the effort raises £3,000, he says he will appeal.
Optician used orthoscopic read eye system
Jordan, an optician in South Ayrshire, carried out work termed a visual processing assessment (VPA). He used an orthoscopic read eye (RE) system.
This instrument identifies the tone, intensity and brightness of a lens.
But it relies on patients expressing a colour preference and identifying the best tint.
The allegations against Jordan revolved around his work using VPA and the RE system between 2007–2012.
The GOC ruled that Jordan failed to have findings reviewed by an optometrist. It also ruled that he failed to obtain informed consent, maintain adequate records or make appropriate referrals.
GOC chief executive Vicky McDermott insisted its investigations were “robust and fair”.
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Published: 18 March 2018
